For what it is worth, I will also be off and not checking emails and rarely (if at all) updating the blog as I will also be trying to enjoy the time with my family and enjoying some down time.
A special congratulations to "my" students who were among those recognized this month (in alphabetical order): Nathan Bradley, Sean Brennan, Aminata Bundu, Diego Cobo, and Riley Douglas. I am proud of you! Thanks for making a positive difference at Kilbourne!
Just 1 more day of exams left! You've got this... finish strong!
One of the projects that they spearhead for Kilbourne students and families is the "Care Closet." In this designated area they have stocked a wide range of personal care items that individuals may want/ need but not have the extra money to keep on hand. For example, in the Care Closet you can find shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant and so much more! And it is all there FREE for anyone who could benefit from a little extra help. This can be particularly helpful to families during the holidays when money may be even tighter than normal or a family might need some basic toiletries to use as a gift.
The Care Closet is a cabinet located in the back hallway between the Counseling Center and Administrative Offices. Please know that we WANT you to use this resource! That is why they provide it for our families. So, if this is something that you know would help you, please stop and help yourself. You can also see me if you want me to help point out where the supplies are located. And then, in the future, you can always go to the Care Closet area and help yourself to any materials that you or your family need. (Parents, know that you too can come in to take advantage of the Care Closet if your son or daughter won't make use of it on their own.)
Also, as an ongoing reminder, we invite all students, families and community members to contribute to the Kilbourne Kindness Closet by donating any gently used Kilbourne clothing items that you no longer need. Whether it's an old sweatshirt, a sport specific t-shirt, or any WKHS apparel that you no longer want or use, we would be grateful for your contributions. This includes both student and parent Kilbourne clothes. We know that wearing Kilbourne clothes strengthens school spirit and builds connection among students and families. Donations can be dropped off in the front Student Services office or in the Counseling Center.
There are a wide range of strategies you can use to help deal with anxiety:
- Research has indicated that spending several minutes before a test to write about your feelings will help decrease test anxiety and improve test scores. The University of Chicago researchers “believe worrying competes for computing power in the brain’s ‘working,’ or short-term memory.”
- Practice putting yourself in testing situations when studying. The more you get used to the experience and feelings of testing the less anxious you will feel when in the actual test.
- Just before the test, avoid talking about the test material with your friends. Chances are fixating on the test material and talking about it with your friends right before the test will only make you more anxious.
- Approach the test with a positive attitude. Don’t go into the test expecting the worst to happen. You can remind yourself that you have studied and know the material.
- Avoid distractions so that you can focus on the test and not on what other students are doing. Do not compare yourself with others and how they are doing on the test.
- Take a deep breath, relax, and do the best you can.
I should also mention that smart testing strategies like getting a good night of sleep, eating breakfast, having all of your required materials (pen, pencil, calculator, scratch paper, etc), getting regular exercise, and giving yourself plenty of time to get to your test on time will also benefit you as a whole and in testing situations.
Remember, Lexi and I will both be around during all of the exam days so if you're feeling overwhelmed and anxious, we are here to help! Good luck on your exams - you'll do great!
Obviously, if you are struggling, I want to talk to you! I want to problem-solve with you and help develop a plan for managing the feelings and experiences you are going through.
Stress comes from a range of events and life circumstances. When positive things happen such as getting a new job, dating someone new, or graduating from high school, stress levels increase. And, obviously, stress levels are higher when negative things take place like failing a test, fighting with family or friends, or having a lot to do in a limited amount of time. Quite simply, the reality is that stress is a part of life and it cannot be escaped, but it is important to learn strategies for dealing with stress.
Holidays can also create stress because expectations tend to be higher during holidays. Families are often together and sometimes that can be difficult or it could mean that siblings who are off to college are home and the change in routine can cause challenges. Students whose parents are divorced are often juggling multiple holidays and trying to be in several places at once which is never easy. Whatever the circumstances are for your family, try to remember that even though the holiday will not be the picture of perfection that you might see portrayed on movies or TV shows, it can still be enjoyable - even if it is stressful.
Finding the stress relievers that are effective in your own life is important not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. Talking to friends, journaling, drawing, reading, listening to music, running, coloring, playing sports, spending time with your pets, taking a walk, dancing, exercising, watching a funny movie, or helping someone less fortunate are all examples of some simple stress relievers that might be ideas you can consider utilizing.
Remember, I am here for you and I want to talk with you... especially if you are feeling stressed!
Interestingly, for many high school students, you don't yet know how to study. The challenging part of studying is that what works best for one person may not be what works best for someone else. And, even if you figure out what works best for you in one particular subject area, that still doesn't mean that this particular strategy will be most effective for a different subject. And, while, the week before exams isn't the ideal time to figure out what study strategies tend to work best for you, it is better late than never.
The best news is that there are lots of different ideas and strategies that you can use to develop a study strategy that works for you! For what it is worth, think of learning to study like you think of learning to run. You already know some skills that have helped you to know how to study and to be successful - just like you already know how to run, but if you practice and really train at running, you can improve significantly and studying will work just the same. Keep working at your study strategies, practice and continue refining your technique until you find the perfect combination that works for you.
If you are struggling to find strategies to try out, I encourage you to visit the WKHS Counselor website as we have lots of examples there. You can also work with your teachers and the Academic Assistant's in the Teaching and Learning Center as they have a wealth of knowledge and helpful tips for study strategies that can help you in their particular subject areas as well as studying overall. And, last, but not least, you can also stop in and see me and I can help brainstorm ideas that you could try.
Below is the bell schedule for your reference as it is definitely different than normal.
Period 1 - 8:40 - 9:19
Period 2 - 9:24 - 10:56 (Students will be divided to spend 1/2 the time in class and 1/2 in the assembly)
Period 3 - 11:01 - 11:40
Period 4 - 11:45 - 12:24
Period 5 - 12:29 - 1:08
Period 6 - 1:13 - 1:52
Period 7 - 1:57 - 2:36
Period 8 - 2:41 - 3:20
I am looking forward to seeing all of my students who are participating as a part of the assembly tomorrow. I also want to send out a huge good luck to all of the Band, Orchestra, and Choir students who will be performing tonight and tomorrow in the Home for the Holidays concert.
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